Photography Exhibition Hangar Brussels: Stephan Vanfleteren – Atelier

Stephan Vanfleteren is one of Belgium’s most renowned photographers. Among the general public, he is mainly celebrated for his penetrating black and white portraits of famous and anonymous people.

However, his oeuvre is much more diverse than that. Starting his careeras a press photographer, Vanfleteren made captivating photo reports about the events that dominated the news. Later on, he began to elaborate a variation of themes in extended photo reportages, going from storefront façades to a journey along the mythical Atlantic Wall. His work has been showcased in numerous solo and group exhibitions. Stephen Vanfleteren has received various awards, including multiple prizes at the World Press Photo (1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2013), among others. Alongside his numerous exhibitions, Stephan Vanfleteren was awarded an honorary doctorate from VUB – Vrije Universiteit Brussel in August 2021.

For the past twelve years, Stephan Vanfleteren has been working intense hours in his daylight studio at home. ATELIER is a collection of that work. Stephan Vanfleteren is searching for beauty and meaning, both in daylight and under artificial light. Grey stage curtains are everywhere as a constantly repeating back- ground. The photographer embraces well- known personalities and anonymous people. He inspects and captures the grooves in the face of an old fisherman and the hand of Nick Cave on the same terms as he does a beach- combed bottle. He focuses an adoring gaze on his own children coming of age as well as on impassioned artists in their old age. He sees the frozen corpse of a kingfisher and the body of a twisting dancer, and watches as the sunlight slowly shifts across his stage curtain.

With boundless energy and enchanted admiration, Vanfleteren explores the intoxicating «old» light, the low-angle light, and chiaroscuro in his studio, thus aligning himself with the tradition
of both old and contemporary masters such as Rembrandt, Géricault, Zurbarán, Claesz, Borremans, Penn, and Roversi. Stephan Vanfleteren always remains faithful to his characteristic style and aesthetics: a palette of blacks and whites, the use of sharp contrasts, and well-defined details are the hallmarks he has developed over the years. Stephan Vanfleteren always remains true to his characteristic style and esthetic. A pallet of black and whites, the use of sharp contrasts and well-defined details is the trademark that he developed throughout the years. Also, his recent color work shows his impressibility, combined with his craftsmanship, his involvement with the subject which can be landscape, still life, portrait or nude. His expansive personal stories and reflections of encounters are mesmerizing excursions of a photographer who feels

as much a witness as an accomplice. A melancholic soul hides in the sensitive photographer. Stephan Vanfleteren connects to the traditions of old and contemporary masters but remains faithful to his characteristic style. His artistic nature and craftsmanship make us both witness and party to the splash of incoming light.

With text contributions by Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer and Stephan Vanfleteren.